Dorothy Caroline (Abend) Holston

Dorothy Caroline Holston a longtime resident of Gambrills, MD passed away after a long illness on Sunday, August 13, 2017 with her son; and family by her side, at the age of 95.  Dottie was born on March 6, 1922 in Baltimore City, MD to the late Conrad H. Abend, Sr. and Anna M. (Winterstein) Abend.

Dorothy moved to Gambrills, MD at the age of six.  She attended Millersville Elementary School and graduated from Arundel High School in 1939.  Dottie started working on the family farm as a field hand and later became a supervisor.  During World War II one of Dorothy’s key responsibilities was to pick up and return German prisoners that were brought in to work on the farm.  She also had the ability to change a truck tire.  Dottie later left the farm and moved to Baltimore, MD working to help support the war effort.

After the war she moved back to Gambrills, MD and married Wallace Holston, a convalescing GI who was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.  Together they worked on the farm and started Gambrills Ditching Company with family friend Leonard Wagner.  Gambrills Ditching Company later became A.A.C. Drywell at which Dottie was company secretary and bookkeeper.  The company had 40 employees during the 1970’s

Dorothy was very active at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gambrills, MD.  She served on the Ladies Aid Committee cooking for their suppers, running the rummage sale and sewing quilts that she either gave away or sold for the poor. 

Dottie is survived by her daughter, Valley Leonard; son, Gary Holston; six grandchildren; many great grandchildren; even a few great great grandchildren; and nephew, Alvin Abend.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1370 Defense Highway, Gambrills, MD 21054 on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at 11:00.  Dorothy will be buried privately with her late husband, Wallace at Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville, MD.

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